PHIL COLLINS

PHIL COLLINS Going Back – Live At Roseland Ballroom, NYC (Eagle Rock)

You’d think that one Motown cover – You Can’t Hurry Love – would be enough for Phil Collins. Nope. In September this year, Collins released Going Back, a tribute to the soul music of the 60s, covering 18 tracks! I mean, seriously? This DVD features the live performance of Going Back where Collins faithfully covers such legendary songs as Tears of a Clown, Papa Was A Rolling Stone, (Love is Like A) Heatwave, You Really Got A Hold On Me and so on.

Sorry but what’s the point? Sure, the renditions are note-faithful, with the original Funk Brothers on board as well BUT Collins’ average vocals does not do any justice to these magnificent songs. I mean, if this was Daryl Hall or Todd Rundgren we were talking about, then perhaps the project would truly be worthwhile. But Phil Collins, the poor man’s Peter Gabriel? The songs are performed by the band and backing vocalists well enough but the person at the front is not able to pull it off successfully.

Unless you are a rabid fan of Phil Collins, simply avoid. Get those original songs instead.